Got Compassion?

“Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”   Francis Schaeffer

  It’s amazing how God works in our lives! Oftentimes, I’m staggered by how patient the Father is with me. We human beings tend to get out of balance and out of whack so easily. We swing from extreme to extreme…and I knew better…I just didn’t do better.

  At one point in my ministry, I swung to the extreme of orthodoxy versus compassion and love. Orthodoxy is so much easier. I found, too, it fed my ego more than compassion, after all, “I was right!” But sadly, I wasn’t.

  God has given me several wonderful gifts over the years to help nudge me back to spiritual balance. The one He has used most in my life is my wonderful wife, Jane. If you look up the word “compassion” in the dictionary, you’ll find Jane’s picture there as an illustration. Jane has a servant’s heart. She is consistently consistent. Sometimes I have to confess that I act more loving and compassionate than I actually feel like being.

  Maybe it’s when you are on the receiving end of compassion the Father rings a bell inside your soul. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been on the receiving end. It’s been a powerful reminder to me how important it is to know that your brothers and sisters love you and care for you. I think we assume they know…but assuming is always faulty. We also get busy and forget how important compassion is to others.

  Probably, our biggest issue as Christians at this point in history is we have allowed Satan to cause us to overreact. Our world knows so little of truth. Truth has become fluid and subjective. We live in what the prophet Isaiah described as: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). In our defense of truth, Satan has often led us to jettison compassion for “truth,” causing us to forget that while we are to cling to the truth, God doesn’t need us to defend the truth. To be candid, for most of us, truth is easier. Yet, truth without love and compassion is often brutal…at the very least, heartless and unfeeling. We forget, too, the issues we face are not new. The 1^st century church faced the identical dilemma of having the truth in a world where there was little or no truth. So much so that Pontius Pilate bemoaned, “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

  As I look back over my life, I can remember very, very few occasions when “truth” in the hands of another was memorable and touched my life. Yet, I’ve lost track of how many times love and compassion from a brother or sister touched my life. Compassion was like medicine for my soul.  

  Some acts of compassion I’m sure seemed so simple, the individual probably gave them little thought. But they were huge for me! Even nearly five decades later, I still remember that Bob and Joyce Collins (Bob was my Sunday School teacher when I was a boy), sent me a card every month for several months just to let me know they were thinking of me after my Mom died. Or, Bob Wroten, Dan Hardin, or Kent and Rita Richards – all of whom would frequently drive out of their way (we’re talking at least ten miles), just to give me a ride to church. Or, the anonymous individual who gave me an airline ticket when I was in Bible College, so I could go home. I didn’t have the money. I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone but one day it just showed up in my mailbox at school. And I can’t tell you how many times that my soul has feasted for days, even weeks on notes of encouragement I’ve received.

  As I had no real family, I am so thankful for many of you who have made our family part of your family. We owe you an unpayable debt. For the rest of our lives, Jane and I will never forget how many of you were there for us as Ben was going through brain surgery. We were never alone at the crisis points of our lives because our family – YOU – were there.

  Yet, it’s hard to care for one another without some level of vulnerability. It was very hard for me to ask for prayer for myself when I learned I had pneumonia and was being hospitalized. It was humbling to admit I didn’t have my act all together. Yet, I knew I had to admit my need. It was the right thing to do and how could you even know how to care unless I admitted I needed care.

  Then, having others visit me in the hospital meant so much. Debbie Ranke even stopped by before her shift began to pray with me and give me a hug. She even graciously scolded me for being a workaholic…words I needed to hear. And words could never express how much I appreciated knowing I was loved and cared for.

  The bottom line is we all need care. I was truly embarrassed recently and apologized to one of our members for being so obtuse. Someone shared with me that this lady hesitated to go out at night to church events because she went home to an empty house. What a simple thing…for someone to go home with her and make sure she’s okay. Or, to at least be available for a phone call after she arrived home to know that all was well.

  Only those on the receiving end know how much it means when someone shares a meal. It’s not the meal, it reminds you that you’re loved. Or, visiting someone in the hospital or making time to go to the funeral visitation when someone has lost a loved one. It can be something as simple as knowing their name, the names of their children and taking a personal interest in their children…and even their grandchildren.

  Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). But are we? Are we known for our love for each other? Too often we let the excuse of busyness steal opportunities to share love. Yet, when we give love, guess what happens? We grow, we’re blessed, we’re fulfilled and our Father is pleased! Loving others is rarely convenient. It’s demands something too many of us greedily cling to – our time – Me time. We must make it a priority.

  And for us to love each other, we must be willing to pull aside the masks and become transparent. It could start with just some transparency about prayer needs, admitting we don’t have our act all together. We all struggle with a myriad of sins and temptations. How much more victorious we would be if we knew how to pray for one another and then did it.

  Then, share if you need help. What fun to paint a room with a brother or sister or install some gadget! Help someone plant their garden. I have lifelong friends to this day (Russ and Linda Johns) because when I was a young man, I helped them wash the walls in their home. Make cookies for a single. Open your home. Invite someone out for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat after church. 

  And yes, I’m going to be a broken record. Please don’t just attend the worship service. Be part of a small group…if for no other reason than for the fellowship. Switch what service you go to for a month just so you meet brothers and sisters you don’t know. May Grace Church be known as the church where we love each other and others…and God is pleased! 

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI --  262.534.3500. 

Presidential Candidates and the War on Women

“The abuse of women and girls is the most pervasive human and unaddressed human rights violation on earth.”  Jimmy Carter

  If the War on Women defenders are looking for two overlooked violators and big targets, they have them in the two leading Presidential candidates in this fall’s election. Usually, the expression War on Women refers to policies and legislation restricting abortion. The concept has rightly been criticized by pro-life individuals from both parties. There is though a War on Women and it has nothing to do with abortion. It’s about the abuse of women before and long after birth. It’s abominable two of the greatest terrorists on women are about to be our two options for the next President.

  This is not about politics. It’s about morality. It’s about right and wrong. Because these two individuals have certain political affiliations and ideologies, many of their supporters (even evangelical Christians) are about to give them a free pass. To me, that would be a terrible mistake.

 It’s very rare for me to mention someone politically. The greatest need of our world is not the next President or who we elect, it’s the Gospel. Yet, as prophets and pastors have done through the ages, some public officials are so vile and so horribly violate God’s Word and morality, they need to be called out publically. Personally, I believe it’s the case with both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. They already are commanders-in-chief when it comes to the War on Women.

  If he were not a Presidential candidate, this nearly seventy-year old would be dubbed a “dirty old man.” The fact he was interviewed by shock jock, Howard Stern, speaks volumes. In the interview, Trump not only admitted he was a draft dodger but qualified it by saying the danger he faced from getting some sexually transmitted disease was his own “personal Vietnam…I feel like a great and very brave soldier.” He recounted that he was lucky not to have contracted diseases when he was sleeping around. The man is both a sexist and misogynist.

  His infidelity which resulted in the break-up of his marriage to then wife, Ivana, is well-known. Ultimately, he married his mistress, Marla Maples, after committing adultery for several years. That marriage too fell apart a few years later. He stalked Princess Diana, bombarding her with expensive floral arrangements after her divorce from Prince Charles and publicly regretted not being able to date her in his 1997 autobiographical book. After his divorce, in 1998, he began a relationship with Slovenian-born fashion model, Melania Knauss. Seven years later, he finally married her.

  It’s common knowledge Donald Trump is a serial adulterer. The public record of his cheating ways is well documented. This is a man who’s broken two marriage vows (so far) while flaunting his adultery in the faces of his then-wives. His values are penciled in by him to suit whatever whims he desires. He’s profited off strip clubs and appeared on the cover of the nation’s pre-eminent porn magazine, Playboy. Despite his recent, transparently phony piety, he holds nothing sacred. When asked if he’d ever asked God for forgiveness, Trump replied, “Why do I have to ask for forgiveness if you’re not making mistakes?” If a man’s wife can’t trust him to keep his vows, why would a nation trust him to keep his oath of office?

  It’s not Hillary Clinton’s fault that her husband probably has the worst record of immorality in the history of the Presidency. It is her fault though that she not only defends him, she viciously attacks the very ones he’s victimized. It was under his Presidency terms about sex which were once whispered in dark alleys became the fodder of the evening news. Parents had to turn off the television or usher children out of the room just to watch the news. All the while, the woman who wouldn’t be demeaned by baking cookies, demonized countless women and young girls her husband had used and then thrown out like the evening trash.

  Why are the foot soldiers in the War on Women willing to close their eyes to such grievous sexual harassment? How could any mother with a daughter vote for the wife of a man who destroyed an impressionable twentysomething girl who was taken advantage of by the most powerful man in the world while working as an intern in the White House. Instead of reporting his crimes of sexual harassment, White House staff moved the victim from the White House to the Pentagon.

  Then, in a very carefully orchestrated smear campaign, this young intern was branded “a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo, and, of course, that woman.” Hillary, the great crusader in the War on Women called Monica Lewinsky “a narcissistic loony tune.” What if it had been her daughter? What if it had been Chelsea?

  Rather than rushing to defend and assist the victim, the First Lady blamed the victim. She sacrificed Monica on the altar of her political career, a carefully crafted political career the Clintons had built over decades while crushing women they were supposed to protect…because Bill can’t control his sexual urges. The only difference in my mind between Bill Cosby and Bill Clinton is that to my knowledge, Clinton has never drugged his victims. Yet, as there has been a national shaming of Bill Cosby, there should be a national shaming of Bill Clinton. Instead, he’s heralded like a hero and has now been drafted as the campaign manager in his wife’s march to the White House.  

  To me, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the modern day King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The primary difference is they’re political foes rather than a political couple. Behind both is a huge wake of victims they have used their wealth and power to abuse. But they won’t get away with it. God is a God of justice and there will be a final accounting.

  God cares greatly about righteousness and a nation’s political life. It was God who ordained human government (Romans 13). Without government, society would descend into anarchy. He desires us to live “a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2) and to pray for “kings and all that are in authority.” 
  Yet, God also gives a nation the leaders they deserve. The first role of any government is to protect the innocent from evildoers. Yet, two of the leading candidates this election cycle are the very ones who brazenly abuse the innocent. While the Bible commands us to respect and submit to government, it never requires us to vote. If these two are the candidates come November, Bible-believers have a terrible dilemma when they enter the ballot booth. How can a Christian vote in good conscience for two of the most evil people to darken the American political landscape? 


Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

You Can't Choose To Be Happy or Make Anyone Else

“If you have no joy, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere.”

Billy Sunday

The dust has settled. All of the confetti has long been swept away from Super Bowl 50. Other than the Broncos win and potentially Peyton Manning’s last game, it’s all settled into the dustbin of history.

  One item though which will be remembered and no doubt resurrected at the beginning of next year’s NFL season will be Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s postgame interview. The only thing “Superman” was dabbing after the game were his eyes. Sullen and subdued, he sat at his press conference for a limited time, saying hardly anything before finally getting up and exiting the press conference. As a result, many were quick to label Newton as a poor sport, even unprofessional. I’m not so sure. For a passionate athlete who loves the game, losing is always a very tough pill to swallow. To me, it’s a time for some private moments of grief.

  Somehow we’ve devolved into a culture where public figures are expected to share every second of their lives with an insatiable public and cynical media. The bottom line is everyone knew Cam Newton was unhappy and there was only one thing which would have made him happy – winning the Super Bowl. Everyone also knows on the field of competition, there can only be one winner. For someone to win, someone has to lose. If the Broncos won, the Panthers had to lose. With a few changes that evening, it could easily have been Peyton Manning sitting in the hot seat of loss, giving a postgame interview. 

  On Super Bowl night, no one could say the right thing, there was no magic pill – only one thing would have changed Cam Newton’s perspective – winning…or is there? Please understand, I’m not suggesting we should become ecstatic about losing or even apathetic. There is though one thing we can control – and it’s not our circumstances, it’s our attitude.

  It’s vital we learn this. It’s vital we teach this to our children and grandchildren. A core fact is, because of sin, life is not fair…this world is not just. Yet, well-meaning parents and spouses continually attempt to make their children or spouses happy. It simply can’t be done. More importantly, it probably shouldn’t be done.

  We tend to be fixers. Character and maturity though are developed in the heat of adversity. So what are we teaching our children? What if the source of the pain for the child is their sibling or a parent? Are we going to sell the sibling on E-bay? Should we have the parent who troubles them move out or limit their interaction with the child? That’s just dumb.

  In today’s world of parenting, if a child doesn’t like a particular food, they don’t have to eat it. If there’s a subject in school they don’t like, they don’t have to take it. If they don’t like a particular teacher or coach, switch classes or teams.

  While it’s true, there are some things we tend to like more than others. It’s part of our personality, how we’re wired. Yet, a child will never grow into a mature, well-rounded adult, when anything and everything which is distasteful or a source of unhappiness is eradicated from their lives. Parents and spouses who hover, seeking to remove sources of unhappiness are not only seeking to do the impossible, they’re ultimately doing a terrible disservice to the very ones who in love they’re seeking to help.  

  Adults who have not learned to they can’t always have it their way, to persevere, problem-solve and change their attitude do one of two things. They move from job to job to job, relationship to relationship, church to church to church. They’re stuck in perpetual emotional and spiritual immaturity. They often sit and sulk, chronically complaining about their lot in life to anyone who is still listening. (Sadly, after a while, no one is).  

  It’s like the anecdote of the two construction workers taking their lunch break. They opened their lunch boxes. One looked inside his box and said, “Not baloney again! I can't believe it. I hate baloney. This is the third time this week I've had baloney. I can't stand baloney!” The other said, “Why don't you just ask your wife to make you something different?” He replied, “What? I don't have a wife. I made these myself.”

  If your child is unhappy, (I’m not talking about one too young to reason through things), work through a character study of how God used adverse circumstances to develop character in the heroes and heroines in the Bible. Because the fact is most of the “baloney” in our lives, we put there ourselves with our own attitude. If we ever want life to be any different from the same old baloney we keep serving ourselves, we must choose to break out of doing the same routine. And it’s impossible to control the circumstances in our lives, people in our lives or the things in our lives. But we can always control our attitude. We can pray and trust God’s grace to bring joy into our lives no matter what. That’s the power of the gospel!

  As Christians, we must learn and teach our children there is a world of difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends upon what happens, therefore, we call it happiness. If you put your trust in happiness, you'll be a victim of circumstances, people or things – because they will continually change.

  Wonderfully, God never changes! The Bible doesn't tell us to rejoice in circumstances. We’re commanded instead to “rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1). Happiness is like cosmetics but joy is part of character. Happiness meets surface needs. Joy meets your deepest needs. Happiness is like a thermometer—it registers conditions. Joy is like a thermostat—it regulates conditions. Happiness always evaporates and disappears, particularly during times of difficulty, when the heat is on – whether it’s a lost football game or a strained friendship. Wonderfully, joy frequently intensifies, in times of suffering. It’s almost cruel to tell someone, “smile, and be happy.” The Bible says though of the Lord Jesus “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). And, yet, the Bible continually speaks of the joy of the Lord.

  Please, stop trying to be happy. And please stop trying to fix everything problematic in the world of your children or spouse, so that they will be happy. It won’t work and you’re doing them a terrible disservice. Because joy and a joyful attitude are always an inside job.

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI --  262.534.3500. 

The Blessing of the Pope vs. Trump

“The only thing of our very own which we contribute to our salvation is the sin which makes it necessary.” William Temple

  I can’t think of many things I am truly thankful for in the current adversarial political arena, but I was truly thankful for the Pope Francis’ recent suggestion that Donald Trump is not Christian. The Pope said, “a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.” I was very thankful he said it. I probably should have sent him a “thank you” note. Yet, what I’m thankful for is probably not what you are thinking. As soon as I heard the story, I thought “what a great opportunity to clearly explain the Gospel!”

  In all honesty, I don’t have a solution for the immigration issue. While I believe a country must protect its borders and has a right to protect its sovereignty, at the same time, the United States has had an open door policy for immigrants since its conception. It’s why our Statue of Liberty has this poem inscribed on it:

“Give me your tired, your poor, 

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

 

  Our long term national care for the disenfranchised and suffering goes back to our Judeo-Christian history and heritage. It’s because of our “Christian” heritage that immigrants desire to come here. There’s not a long list of people trying to immigrate to China or Cuba.

  The Bible has much to say about immigrants in our midst. For example, “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). It does not though give us a clear policy or even suggestions of how to legislate about immigration. Personally, I feel, while many have come here illegally, unless they’re criminals and not desiring to become citizens and/or better themselves, it’s cruel to send them back. It’s also unacceptable to tear apart families. Yet, it seems to me both parties use suffering people groups as a political football to incite emotion to gain mileage with their constituency. If they were primarily concerned about what’s best for America and immigrants, a reasonable solution could be worked out…please don’t hold your breath.

  Yet, my real point is that the Pope suggested someone was NOT Christian because of something they DO. That’s not what the Bible teaches or the Gospel says. It does point up the polarization of two completely different religious or worldviews. Essentially, there are only two religions or belief systems…and they’re quite simple – DO and DONE.

  In his comments, the Pope is suggesting one must DO something to be a Christian. Yet, the Bible clearly says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). What does one do for a gift? Nothing. For once you must “DO” something to obtain that gift, it ceases to be a one. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God’s grace is absolutely free. Once you DO something or work for it, it ceases to be grace. More than that, you can’t DO anything – nothing, zilch, nada “not a result of works.”

  Building a wall, not building a wall, being moral, going to church, giving lots of money, being nice – none of it has anything to do with being a Christian. Doing something, doing anything will no more make you a Christian, than climbing over a wall will make you a citizen.

  God gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross to pay our huge debt for our sins. It’s a free gift. It’s all DONE. The only thing that remains is to accept it. In fact, to think one can DO something to somehow pay God back for the gift of the life of His precious Son is an insult to the Father. As George Whitfield said, “What! Get to heaven on your own strength? Why, you might as well try to climb to the moon on a rope of sand!”  

  The Bible also teaches I don’t know who is a Christian, neither do you and neither does the Pope. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Only God knows who is truly a Christian. While if someone is a Christian, there should be indicators or what Scripture calls fruit (Matthew 7:16), only God knows who has truly accepted His free gift of salvation and is truly a Christian.

  One cannot DO anything to become a Christian, other than accept God’s free gift of salvation because Jesus has DONE it all. One can also not DO anything to keep their salvation. The Bible calls salvation “eternal life.”

  How long is eternal? How then can someone lose what is eternal? As Romans 8:35, 38-39 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Wow! You can’t DO anything to earn it and you can’t DO anything to lose it! It’s all DONE.

  That’s because when Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, the sin debt as huge and as unfathomable as that huge debt is, it’s still a finite amount. Yet, when the Son of God died, His sacrifice was an infinite death – every sin, past (all the way back to Adam,) present and future (all the way to infinity and beyond) was paid for. It’s all DONE.

  Is Donald Trump a Christian? I don’t know. I do know that according to the Bible, it has nothing to do with what he will DO or not DO. If he is a Christian, it’s only because of what Jesus has DONE and that Donald Trump has accepted God’s free gift of salvation. Jesus death has DONE it all. No sin is too great. Even the most heinous sin is paid for, even my sin…and I’m truly the worst sinner I know. It’s DONE. Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation? Is it a DONE deal for you?

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI --  262.534.3500. 

The Theology of Sleep

“The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.”  W.C. Fields

  When was the last time you heard someone talk about the good night’s sleep they had? How about that they slept in? Or, that they are pleased they’re getting at least eight hours of sleep a night? Probably close to never. Did you ever think we’d live in a day when people pay to have a sleep study done on their sleep patterns? That a lack of sleep is a major health problem?

  The busier and more complex our culture becomes, the more we sacrifice sleep. Our competing priorities, such as work, family responsibilities and social obligations squeeze our commitment for sleep. Studies show women in general seem to battle sleep issues more than men, and this starts early—often sometime in pre-adolescence.

  Too often because of our heritage of the Protestant work ethic, we associate sleep with laziness. It can be the case but for most of us, it’s not our issue. Our lack of sleep is our issue.

  Did you know the Bible has a lot of positive things to say about sleep? Psalms 3:5 “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.” Psalms 127:2 “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.” Proverbs 3:24 “If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

  When someone tells you they’re attempting to get by on a minimal amount or less sleep, take it as a warning. People tend to be crabbier and more short-tempered if they’re sleep deprived. And don’t get in a car with someone who’s sleep-deprived. Sleep-deprived driving is a major cause of accidents. Studies show it can impair the human brain as much as alcohol.

  Sleep plays a vital role in thinking and learning. A lack of sleep hurts cognitive processes. It impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning and problem solving. This makes it more difficult to learn efficiently. During the night, various sleep cycles play a role in “consolidating” memories in the mind. If you fail to get enough sleep, you won’t be able to remember what you learned or experienced during the day.

  Chronic sleep loss can put you at a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure or even a stroke. Sleep specialists say sleep-deprived men and women report lower libidos and less interest in intimacy. Depleted energy, sleepiness and increased tension may be largely to blame.

  Sometimes a lack of sleep indicates a subtle spiritual problem. We think we must put in inordinate amounts of work. We push ourselves because we feel we must take care of ourselves and our families. While we need to be diligent workers, God wants us to trust Him and not jeopardize our health. Other times we toss and turn because we’re not trusting God. We’re worrying, losing needed sleep over what we need to commit to God.   

  A healthy adult will spend about 30% of their time on earth sleeping. If you live 75 years, you’ll spend about twenty-five of those years sleeping. Sleep is part of our design by God. It’s part of our Creator’s ordained rhythm and routine which God stamped into creation. In Genesis we read that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh day, God rested.

  Sleep is part of the pattern God gave us. It orders our time, divides our time and then gives energy to our waking time. Sleep is part of God’s created order. It’s a vital aspect of creation God declared, “Good.” Most of us forget the Lord Jesus slept. The Gospels tell us of when, after a long day of preaching to the crowds, Jesus was in a boat— deep in sleep.

  Unlike some religions which claim the body is inherently evil, Judeo-Christianity teaches great respect for the human body. The body is something God made good. The body is physical, but it’s spiritual as well. What you do with your body and how you take care of your body matters to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that, “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you, whom you received from God.” So what are some lessons about a theology of sleep?

  How we live in the day affects how we sleep at night. In Proverbs 3, the wise father urges his son to live according to godly wisdom. Then, he sums up the benefits: “Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Many toss at night because of a guilty conscience. What we do during the day can steal our sleep at night.

  What we think about in bed often reveals our hearts. As you’re lying in bed, before you fall sleep, your mind thinks about many things. Scripture reveals it’s often the things you care about most. Lying in bed, the heart ponders, meditates, worries or even plots. For example, Psalms 63:6 says, “When I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night.” What a contrast to Psalms 36:4, “He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.” What do you think about as you lay in bed, before you sleep? It says a lot about the condition of your heart.

  God gives us sleep so we can serve Him. Psalms 127 reminds us that while unbelievers work day and night to get what they want, our Heavenly Father provides for the people of faith. He give us a regular work day and blesses us with sleep. God gives us sleep so we’ll have the strength we need. That way when the daylight comes, we can get out of bed and serve the Lord with a joyful heart.

  God cares about you. He even cares about your sleep. God created and ordained sleep, yet God never sleeps! He designed it for us.

  It’s apparent God created our need for and the blessing of sleep as a constant reminder of how much we need and must rest in Him. Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we’re not God. We think we must work…we must get things done, we’re indispensable. Once a day God turns us into helpless lumps of clay. How humbling to the self-made corporate executive that he has to give up all control and become as limp as a baby virtually every day. Sleep is a powerful reminder that God is God and we’re just humans, mere mortals. God handles the world quite wonderfully while we sleep. In a sense, sleep is like a broken record which comes around with the same message every day: Man is not sovereign. Man is not sovereign. Man is not sovereign. 

  Go ahead, enjoy a good night’s sleep. Remember, too, God is not nearly as impressed with our late nights and early mornings as He is with the peaceful trust we have which casts all of our anxieties on Him and rests. 

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI --  262.534.3500. 

The High Cost of Negativity

“One of my main regrets in life is giving considerable thought to inconsiderate people.”  Jarod Kintz

  Church researcher and writer, Thom Rainer, recently wrote: “Few people are truly aware of the constant requests, complaints, and criticisms pastors and other church leaders receive. I must admit, however, I was surprised when I asked church leaders on Twitter to share some of the more unusual comments they have received…I was most surprised at the really strange things people tell pastors…I narrowed my selection to twenty-five, but it could have been much higher.” Here are a few of the best ones...

  “We need a small group for cat lovers.” “You need to change your voice.” “Our expensive coffee is attracting too many hipsters.”  “Preachers who don’t wear suits and ties aren’t saved. It’s in the Bible.”  “I don’t like the color of the towels in the women’s restroom.”  “Your wife never compliments me about my hair or dress.” “Not enough people signed up for the church golf tournament. You have poor leadership skills.” “I think you are trying to preach caffeineism.” “If Jesus sang from the red hymnals, why can’t we?” “I don’t like the brand of donuts in the foyer.” “You shouldn’t drink water when you preach.”  “The toilet paper is on the wrong way in the ladies restroom. It’s rolled under.” “Did you see me waving in the back of the worship center? You preached too long. It was time to eat!”  “The eggs were not scrambled enough at the senior adult breakfast.” 

  Like most pastors, periodically, I hear silly comments like that. After three decades of ministry, I’m fairly thick skinned (some think I’m “thickheaded”). But if you let them, no matter who you are, negative comments can bother you.

  These are a few things I do when I hear negative comments. First, I consider the source. If the person is chronically negative, rarely has anything positive or productive to say, I ignore it. Then, I consider whether the person is part of the team or just a spectator. If someone is not serving or active or a member, but just a spectator, filling a spot, I tend to tune it out. If they’re critical at our church and not part of helping us reach our world for Christ, as far as I’m concerned they can find another church and be critical there…and it won’t bother me. The third thing I do though when someone is chronically negative and critical, I encourage myself by praising the Lord I don’t have to live with them. I truly feel compassion if they’re married, for whoever they’re married to. I’m just happy it’s not me!

  That’s because there are few things which kill love and intimacy as much as pettiness. Apparently, King Solomon had some petty people in his life. He appears to be writing from firsthand experience…“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife” (Proverbs 25:24). Or, “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand” (Proverbs 27:15-16). Probably, because Solomon had so many wives, he addresses this in the feminine gender. Yet, pettiness is a genderless malady – both men and women can be negaholics.

  Sadly, for those who are petty and negaholics, they often don’t realize it. It’s so much a part of their life; it’s their normal. Yet, there are few traits which so poison our relationships as this. So how do you know if this is your sin? How do you know if you are missionary of misery? Let me share some general things to look for. These are not always true, yet are generally true.

  You have few healthy relationships. You may convince yourself you’re an introvert (maybe you are). But if others don’t want to be around you or befriend you, if even your spouse and/or children don’t seem to relish your company, it may be your negativism is a repellent. Another sign can be if most of your friends tend to be critical and negative. The old adage is true, “birds of a feather flock together.”

  You’re alone a lot. If it seems your spouse would rather be working or involved in some other social activity than be home with you, maybe there’s a reason. Or, if when you’re spouse or children are home, they’re in other parts of the house, there may be a message there. If you wonder, “why doesn’t anyone ever call me or seek me out?” Maybe you’re about as pleasant to be around as an IRS auditor.

  When you’re around, people act differently. If your spouse or children act completely different when they’re in your company, it can be a warning sign. It could be they don’t want to be critiqued. Or, if you’re in public, perhaps they fear being dressed down later for their foibles. Often in public situations, those who live with a negaholic are very, very quiet. They don’t want to pay a big price later when they are in private with you.

  Your children tend to be whiny. I’ve chuckled sadly over the years. Parents who often complain how whiny their children are, don’t realize it’s frequently learned behavior. The child is following a parental example.

  You spend a lot of time watching or listening to bad news. You are what you eat. Or, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” If you continually watch, read or listen to the negative – it will contaminate your life and come out. If you find you’re default mental drive is negative things, it’s going to be your output. If you feed and think on the negative, you’ll bear that fruit in your life.

  To me, it makes no sense. If I’m too hot, I adjust the thermostat or change clothes. If my feet get wet, I put on dry socks. If I’m tired, I lay down. Most of us respond that way. If something is externally uncomfortable, we correct it. Why don’t we do it internally? Why spend huge amounts of time thinking about what’s uncomfortable, or on what we don’t enjoy? We have more control over our internal environment than we do our external one. It’s what Scripture commands in Philippians 4:8, “ Finally…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

  We need to count the high price for negativity. The greatest loss for a missionary of misery is our mission field. We’re called to be salt and light, what do you do when something is saturated with salt? You spit it out or don’t eat it. What about a blinding light? You close your eyes or dodge it. 

  Perhaps the reason some of us are ineffective as witnesses is because the bulk of our life is such a big turn off. The good news is that as a believer, God will give us the grace to change…today. The Spirit will empower you to be a healthy encouraging person. You have to just let Him. Will you? Show you love the Lord and those around you – choose to change! 

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI -- 262.534.3500. 

Dr. King and Loving Your Enemies

“Love is the only force capable of making an enemy a friend.”   
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  Recently, I was reading about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the quest for Civil Rights. To bring media attention to the injustice and lack of rights African-Americans had at the time, Dr. King would stage boycotts and marches. It was hoped this would incite local law enforcement to make arrests and thus, make the news, drawing attention to the horrible plight of African-Americans under Jim Crow laws in the South.

  Just before the well-known conflict in Selma, Alabama, Dr. King led a long campaign in Albany, Georgia. As far as media attention and drawing attention to the cause, it was a failure. The Albany police chief, Laurie Pritchett, unlike many other Southern law enforcement officials, refused to take the bait. Chief Pritchett ordered his officers not to use violence or excessive force. He was consistently friendly and polite. While he may have personally agreed with Jim Crow laws, Chief Pritchett treated Dr. King and the protesters with respect.

  When the Northern press came to Albany to cover the confrontation between white and black, they found—to their surprise—they actually liked Chief Pritchett. When Dr. King was finally thrown in jail in Albany, a mysterious well-dressed man came and immediately bailed him out. The rumor was the man had been sent by Chief Pritchett. It’s hard to be a martyr or bring attention to your cause, if you’re bailed out of jail the instant you get there.

  At one point, Chief Pritchett moved into a downtown motel so he could be on call should any violence erupt. In the midst of a long negotiating session with Dr. King, Chief Pritchett was handed a telegram by his secretary. As Chief Pritchett recalled years later:

  “I…must have shown some concern over [it] because Dr. King asked me if it was bad news. I said, ‘No, it’s not bad news, Dr. King. It just so happens this is my twelfth wedding anniversary, and my wife has sent me a telegram.’ And he says—I will never forget this and this shows the understandin’ we had – he said, ‘You mean this is your anniversary?’ and I said, ‘That’s right,’ and I said, ‘I haven’t been home in at least three weeks.’ And he said, ‘Well, Chief Pritchett, you go home tonight, no, right now. You celebrate your anniversary. I give you my word that nothing will happen in Albany, Georgia, till tomorrow, and you can go, take your wife out to dinner, do anything you want to, and tomorrow at ten o’clock, we’ll resume our efforts’.” Both Dr. King and Sheriff Pritchett lived out Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”   

  Christians are to be unique in a hateful, unloving world. We are commanded to love our enemies. Pagans naturally love their spouses, children, family, friends and others…so what!?! No one is surprised when someone loves their spouse or family. We may respond with a “isn’t that sweet,” yet we’re not surprised. It doesn’t captivate our attention. Jesus is pointing out that something very profound has happened to those who are born-again. The Apostle Paul repeats these same commands, adding to them, in Romans 12:14-21.

  Please understand, these are not options for “super Christians,” they’re to be normative behavior for every child of God! In fact, loving your enemies proves you are a child of God. Perhaps our lost family and friends don’t want what we say we have because they see so little “proof.”

  This doesn’t mean we deny evil or injustice, yet as Paul points out, dealing with or judging injustice is not our responsibility – it’s God’s (Romans 12:19). It’s not wrong to hate evil; it’s wrong to hate evildoers. Too many Christians have difficulty making and more importantly communicating this vital distinction. So how do we love our enemies?

  It begins with humanizing my enemies. Every person is made in the image of God. Each one was born, each has a mother and a father. Often he or she has a spouse and children. They eat and drink. They have personal stories and experiences full of pain and joy. They’re human, image-bearers of God. If I take the narrative of the Bible to be true, they’re loved by God, loved enough that He sent His only Son to die for them.

  I’m commanded to pray for my enemies. I know this…you probably know this. It’s not new information that a believer is to pray for their enemies. But why is it we so often give lip service to it, acknowledge it’s true – yet still don’t do it? I don’t believe it’s just because we’re busy or our prayer lives are anemic. It’s because we’d rather vent and feel the warm, enticing animosity in our souls. In some perverse way, we actually relish anger and hate. We’d rather do that than pray and have God begin to bring His love and peace to our soul, and change us. Like a drug addict, we don’t realize how poisonous hatred is, whether it’s toward the enemy who is close or the one who’s far away, to our own souls and spiritual health. We think we can imbibe and ultimately be unaffected. We can’t.

  Be warned! What we focus on we become like. Someone hates their Dad or ex-spouse, a sibling, or even a political leader. It’s all they talk about. It’s all they think about…and in their focus they’re changed into that which they continually focus on, the very one they despise.   

  Martin Niemoller, a German pastor, arrested by the Nazis is a model for us. He prayed daily from his prison cell for his captors. Other prisoners asked why he prayed for them. “Do you know anyone who needs your prayers more than your enemies?” he replied.

  I am commanded to love my enemies. This is supernatural. I believe only a true child of God can do this because it’s only through the power of the Spirit, who indwells and cultivates His fruit in a believer. Jesus did it. It’s heard as He prayed for His enemies as they murdered Him, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” At one time, you and I were God’s enemies and He loved us. How can we justify failing to let His love flow through us toward our enemies? But do you?

  I wonder how many times we turn off our lost friends and/or family by our hateful comments about our enemies. Would our lost family and friends know we love Jesus and that He’s transformed our life by our posts on Facebook about our work enemies? How about our political enemies? Are we obeying by praying and loving our enemies? It’s not optional. To fail to obey is sin. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Are you obedient? Do you love and pray for yours? 

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI --  262.534.3500.